“Essential fatty acids are a non-pharmaceutical way of producing an anti-inflammatory effect,” he says, noting that balanced essential fatty acid therapy has been found to significantly improve signs and symptoms of dry eye. Sheppard’s belief that inflammation is the underlying cause of dry eye. 2 (Several of the study’s physicians received compensation from PRN.) In another study, oral administration of re-esterified omega-3 fatty acids (Dry Eye Omega, Physician Recommended Nutraceuticals) resulted in a statistically significant improvement in tear osmolarity, as well as improvements in such secondary endpoints as corneal staining and tear breakup time. Additionally, significant differences in improvements in dry-eye symptoms were found between compliant and noncompliant patients as well as between those with moderate/severe and those with none/mild conjunctival hyperemia. In addition, the Schirmer test scores and the TBUT increased significantly, and there was an increase in patients grading 0 to I on the Oxford scale and a decrease of those grading IV to V. The following variables were assessed: dry-eye symptoms (scratchy and stinging sensation, eye redness, grittiness, painful and tired eyes, grating sensation and blurry vision) conjunctival hyperemia tear breakup time Schirmer I test and Oxford grading scheme.Īt 12 weeks, all dry-eye symptoms improved significantly, and artificial tear use decreased significantly from 3.77 times per day at baseline to 3.45 times per day. 1 Patients were instructed to take three capsules/day (1.5 g) of the company’s nutraceutical formulation Brudysec. In one recent report, sponsored by nutraceutical-maker Brudy Technology (Barcelona, Spain), a total of 1,419 patients with dry-eye syndrome who were using artificial tears participated in a 12-week prospective study. Patients can titrate upwards based on their response rate.”Ī number of studies have demonstrated that oral nutritional supplements are an effective treatment for dry-eye symptoms.
Some people are opposed to the fish component, so they use flaxseed oil instead. “They are part of my regimen, and I usually start out with 1,000 mg of fish oil a day. “Nutritional supplements for dry eye have been around for 10 or 15 years,” notes Dr. Nutritional supplements are widely used and have also been found to be an effective therapy for dry eye. “They are reversible, and they stay in permanently, without any swelling.” “Once the inflammatory process has been stopped, I am a huge fan of plugs,” he says. Karl Stonecipher, MD, who is in private practice in Greensboro, N.C., agrees. Some physicians are turning to organic treatments in addition to traditional tears and prescription medications to treat these Staining patterns show both the patient’s lid wiper epitheliopathy and dry-eye disease. These are a wonderful option, especially if the patient doesn’t have allergies or rosacea.”Ĭlassic lissamine green staining two minutes after instillation. “You can always move on to a silicone, non-dissolvable plug afterwards. “You can use a temporary plug just to give it a shot and see if it works,” he says.
Sheppard describe the ways in which their treatment options are growing.Īccording to Robert Latkany, MD, founder of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s Dry Eye Clinic, it can be argued that punctal plugs are a natural treatment because their sole purpose is to keep patients’ own tears on their eyes longer. All patients should be treated using both modalities.” In this article, dry-eye experts who think similarly to Dr. Tear conservation is right at the top of the list of treatments and so is nutrition. “Some physicians are still hesitant to use medications, much to the chagrin of the pharmaceutical companies,” says John Sheppard, MD, professor of ophthalmology, microbiology and molecular biology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and president of Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk. Many ophthalmologists are opting not to use only artificial tears as a first-line treatment for dry eye and are adding a variety of other treatments, as well, such as punctal plugs, nutraceuticals and moisture masks.
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